If there’s one thing I don’t do with my makeup, I don’t depot them. I know it’s quite popular to do so especially for eyeshadow singles so you don’t have to contend with a drawer full of single shadows that you can never find which to use; or palettes, especially those that come in cardboard cases that can get grubby over time or large palettes so it’s easier to store and use.

The one and only time I did was out of necessity (NARS has HORRIBLE rubber packaging that melts and while I’m assured that the new ones won’t, I’ll say that it remains to be seen) and I shattered a NARS blush I liked (for the record, it was Desire) and at the time, I rehomed them into an Unii palette. I have toyed with the idea of getting another Unii palette from time to time but I never did because I don’t like it anymore. I find it bulky and I grew to dislike how it looked because it felt very kiddy to me. Here’s how it looks and no offence if it appeals to you, it just didn’t to me. Oh and it’s expensive. I toyed with the idea of a Z-Palette too but it was cardboard so nah, not for me no matter how sturdy it claims to be 😛

Anyway, I stopped by the Make Up For Ever Pro Boutique on the long weekend to pick up an eyeshadow and my eye fell on their empty palettes. A lightbulb came on and I picked up one to fill up with the only 2 Urban Decay palettes I own. Yes my friends, I was going to depot my palettes! 😀

Now before you sneer at me and go “Meh, Make Up For Ever’s tin magnetized palettes must cost a heck lot more than a plastic Unii palette or Z-Palette or any plain DIY palette!” let me disabuse you of that notion. I got this one, which is fairly large (I believe it’s the Metal Palette known as L for Large) which cost me RM65 and fits 10 MUFE eyeshadow pans with the insert or maybe more without, but what’s important is that it is an empty palette so you can put anything in there!

I did not intend to get this, I wanted the smaller one which would have cost just RM30 but they were out of stock so I put my name down to be notified when it came back in stock.

The metal case has a full magnetized base which does make it a little heavier than a plastic palette. But I liked that it was made of metal which is sturdier albeit a little heavier. The magnet base is also very strong. I loved it! It means the depotted makeup pans will stay put and not run around.

Part of the reason I didn’t really want such a large empty palette is because what I wanted was only to depot my 2 Urban Decay palettes –15th Anniversary Palette and Naked 2 – into something smaller and handier to store and tote around or just something easier to use. I liked both these palettes but I wasn’t using them enough, especially the 15th Anniversary one, due to the bulk. I think the MUFE Medium Empty palette would have suited my needs better in terms of size.

And here was my result of a productive afternoon 🙂

For the record, the UD Naked 2 palette is incredibly easy to depot. I literally just popped out the shadows with very little effort, and they came out intact. There was very little glue to clean off, and the metal pans stick straight onto the magnet base very strongly.

The UD 15th Anniversary on the other hand was much harder to depot. The pans were a closer fit inside the plastic holes and the glue holding them in there was much stronger. The best way I found, was with heat (I used a candle) to heat the bottom of the plastic pan and then work each pan out of the hole very carefully. It wasn’t without casualties as you can see. I left the black shade (Blackout) for last and as luck would have it, it was the only one that shattered. It was very hard to get out. But black is an easy shade to replace and it’s also available in the Naked 2 palette so I wasn’t fussed. Ace too suffered cracking and some breakage as you can see.

Unlike many people, I didn’t bother labelling each shadow. I can’t usually be bothered remembering names of colours because I rarely, if ever, talk about them in everyday conversation. So, I didn’t mind mixing both palettes around and forgetting the names of the colours.

If you move the shadows around, you can fit a brush or two in there as well, which makes it very handy to take when you travel or if you just want a handy palette to keep on your dresser. I could easily fit more shadows in there, or maybe a blush or two to complete a full face look. I haven’t quite decided.

If I do get the smaller palette, I might just move all the shadows in there so I have a nice compact palette for all my Urban Decay shadows but we’ll see how that goes 🙂

The empty palettes do not come with dividers (yay!) and come with a stiff clear plastic sheet which helps protect your shadows while still allowing you to see them. Or if you’re travelling with them, then use the included foam sheet to protect them so they don’t break.

So, if you’re thinking of depotting your eyeshadow or makeup and are wondering what to home them in, I’d strongly suggest taking a look at these empty palettes from Make Up For Ever.

IN A NUTSHELL

The Make Up For Ever empty metal palette is a good palette to consider for housing loose pans or depotted makeup. The palettes are very sturdy and made of metal so there is a little heft to it, but it also makes it more solid. There is a very good and strong magnet base and the palette comes with a clear plastic protective sheet and a foam protector to protect your shadows. The metal palettes come in various sizes. Pictured is the Large one, which fits a lot. There are 2 more smaller sizes and one more that’s even larger if that suits your needs. I don’t find them pricey, considering what they’re made of and how they perform.

PROS: Well made and sturdy, Sleek design, Strong magnet base holds pans in place, Comes in different sizes, Affordable

CONS: Only available at the MUFE Pro Boutique, No mirror (but it doesn’t bug me), A little weighty due to the magnet

WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who likes depotting their makeup and needs an affordable, sturdy palette to house them

Yes, I say they’re affordably priced considering it is a proper makeup artist brand and a proper metal palette with a good quality magnet to hold your pans in place. Just for reference, this MUFE Large Empty Metal Palette cost me RM65. A similar sized Z-Palette (cardboard) would cost US$20 or RM77 depending on where you buy it. A Unii palette is much smaller and costs US$29 or RM100, depending again on where you buy it.

Granted, the Z-Palette gives you a clear top despite the cardboard case, and the Unii palette comes in pretty candy colours. But if neither of these sway you then I’d nudge you in the direction of Make Up For Ever because as you can see, it’s just more affordable in the big scheme of things! 😀

Incidentally also, I just remembered that back in the day, I used to buy the Make Up For Ever 4 pan palettes to house my Stila eyeshadows. They were the same size and cost almost half what Stila palettes cost. So yeah, I’ve been using these for a while 😀

If you regularly depot your makeup what do you house them in?

I don’t regularly do it so this is the exception rather than the norm. But part of the reason I was reluctant before is because I couldn’t find an empty palette I was happy with. Yes, I know you can DIY your own but I’m just not into that. Now that I have found a fairly reasonably priced, well made option, I might move onto depotting my Tarte shadows. Now those will be a challenge! 😀

Paris B

Make Up For Ever Empty Metal Palette comes in various sizes and is available at the Make Up For Ever Pro Boutique at Sephora Starhill

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About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. Let the buyer's remorse be ours not yours! When not testing the newest skincare creams and lotions, or playing with makeup, find her testing her culinary skills in the kitchen at Chez PB. Read more about us here or leave a comment below or connect with us on social media at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

I really like the fact that its metal, not cardboard. Some of my fav palettes e.g Lorac and theBalm come in cardboard which doesnt seem durable. So this is a good idea to replace the cardboards and keep it in metal cases. The price seem good as well. My only prob, i have to go to KL to get it since its not available in Sephora

This item’s only available at the pro boutiques so you can’t get them at the regular MUFE counters. Time to stock up the next time you’re in KL perhaps? 🙂 I was very impressed with the fact that it’s metal too. I plan to depot the Lorac palettes once I get them 🙂

I’ve always wanted to try depotting, but the purist in me has always steered clear of doing so. That and also the fact that I can’t DIY anything without shattering or breaking it. And I love me eyeshadows like my own children lol! But depotting certainly makes it easier to carry everything in one go. Hmmm. The dilemma. To depot or not to depot?

PS:Have you checked out the Guerlain Meteorites Perles D’etoiles? Its so pretty! Waiting till it launches here! ?

I felt the same too Shasha. I usually don’t depot, preferring to keep everything in their original packaging but as I soon found out, it was too much of a hassle to use certain palettes and then I end up not using them at all, which is a waste. Depotting them takes this dilemma away. That said, I’m not planning to go the whole hog and depot everything in sight, as many people do. I’ll just depot the more awkward palettes 🙂

Yes, this post came in a such a good time!
I was complimenting if I should buy a hot glue just to stick my UD naked 2 eye shadow pans back into the palette or just deport them. They have been falling out so much is causing me so much grief. Yes will pick this up once the smaller size has been restock. 😀

Unless you absolutely love the Naked 2 palette, I’d just depot them into a smaller case. It was incredibly easy to pop the colours out of the palette and to arrange them in the new MUFE palette so I think you might even get more use out of them that way! 😀

Hi Paris. Thanks for the post. The timing is perfect as I’m considering to depot my Nars’ blushes palette (like you, I hate the stickiness due to our humid weather!). Anyway just would like to ask: do you think the MUFE empty metal palette is good enough for travel? or perhaps the foam protector is a good idea to use? I bought one Unii palette once and brought my depotted UD eyeshadows (cant remember from which palette) & a few of the cfolours shattered! I thought since it’s quite thick it can protect the eyeshadows but that wasnt the case. Do you think MUFE is okay since it’s thinner? Appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you (sorry for the long comment!)

You’re welcome Shahirah. Yes, I think the MUFE palette will definitely survive travel. It’s quite sturdy and unless your product is weakened from depotting (sometimes it can result in minute cracks in the powder that we don’t notice) it should survive most travel. The foam insert holds it in place and protects it further and it comes with it anyway so there’s no reason not to leave it in there. That said, it will depend on the sort of travelling that you mean. For regular hand carry, I think it’s fine.

Surprisingly some of the MUFE accessories are quite cheap. I’ve been wanting this steel palette for mixing and I thought MUFE one is expensive. I found out that it’s just RM20 for the small size and RM25 for the large size 🙂
On another hand, I don’t mind bulky eyeshadow palette. I have a weird sentimental habit of looking at the original packaging lol

Yes, the MUFE accessories are definitely impressive in terms of price. I used to be particular about keeping everything in their original packaging but I guess I’m getting less sentimental as time goes on. If I don’t kill them, I can’t buy new ones! LOL!

Great idea really and the MUFE palette is actually quite affordable. I hardly use eye shadows so do not have anything to depot but I love this idea :-). Just wondering, why do you need to depot the UD Naked 2 palette? I thought the original packaging is quite compact and slim so it is nice the way it is.

Oh it fits anything not just eyeshadows LOL! If any product you buy comes in refill pans then they can go in here too. The original UD Naked 2 packaging was fine but I felt it to be too long so I’d store it in a drawer and not see it. Now that it’s depotted and residing with the other UD shadows, I actually use them more often. Funny eh?

I depotted my UD 15 anniversary palette a while ago, and I put it in my Unii palette. I like that it’s small and has a mirror inside. It fits an extra NARS blush perfectly, so it makes things easier. I also use the Z palette and while it’s made of cardboard, it’s rather sturdy. I also like to see what’s inside without having to open the lid and check every palette. I might have to check these out as well. I like reorganizing my makeup, and I like variety. Never known to stick to one thing forever. So boring. LOL!

I contemplated the Z Palette for the reason of its clear cover but then I wasn’t keen on the fact it was cardboard although I am assured it is very sturdy. The good thing about depotting these shadows is that I’m actually using them more often now instead of letting them rot away in the drawer and I like the variety too!

I felt the same way about packaging Aggie 😀 But then I think I’ve lost the sentimental edge. These days, I’m pretty brutal in culling so depotting was good. It helped me cull one broken eyeshadow! LOL! 😉

Hi MonicaP, Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 Talk about being nervous, I was a wreck! Haha… but it was something I had to do or I’d never use the products. If you buy refills of eyeshadow or blush from places like MAC or even MUFE themselves, then this is a good palette to get to hold them too – cheaper and sturdier than MAC’s I believe 🙂

i wanted to pick this up while i was at the pro store in vegas on vacation but they were out of stock 🙁 i don’t usually bother depotting my shadows either but i wanted them for the artist shadows that i picked up.

That is such a problem with NARS but they still keep making the silly rubber casing! I wish someone would tell them to stop or just sell us the refills right? LOL! I think you could fit quite a few of the blushes into the MUFE palettes! 😀

I almost died from joy when I discovered these at the MUFE Pro Boutique…and at those prices!I did not buy the larger sizes and opted for the smaller RM30 size. Oh my, as much as I loved my Z-Palettes, these are much cheaper, more durable for travel purposes and are a worthy investment for me and my many single pans.
I’m actually not as much a Depotter as much as I am a Refiller. I frequently opt for refill pans and need a way to house them as I’m not fussed about original packaging, only original product. I love how roomy they are and can fit in all of my large BECCA Pressed Shimmer Pans and then some!
Oh, I hope I didn’t grab too many and leave you with none, my dear Ms. P!

Good point about using these empty palettes for refill pans! I don’t usually buy refill pans because that means buying single colours and having to make my own palettes and colour combinations and that always results in a disaster for me LOL! You must have cleaned them out of the small palettes before I came on the scene, SG! Hopefully they’ve restocked but I’ve been too busy to go and check >.<

Homaigawd! Homaigawd! Homaigawd! Homaigawd! I am all over this!! I love freestyle palettes. I have both the Unii and Z’s and I like them both for different reasons. But they are costly. I have a tonne of eyeshadows and blushers and depotting has de-cluttered my life ( and my makeup drawers). I have to get this! Its so affordable too! And I read somewhere they are deep enough to house baked products (which are domed shape). Awe.some.

Haha it sounds like you’re a prime candidate for MUFE’s large palettes then! 😉 Yes, they are fairly deep but if you want to house domed items, you may have to do without the plastic and foam inserts. If you aren’t taking them anywhere, I don’t suppose it matters then but it is very handy!

Nice! This gives the old school metal pencil case back in school days…Oops, did that just give my era away bahahaha. Anyway, you depot the15th Anniversary Palette? Aww, I thought they looked lovely in the palette but as you rightfully said, it is rather bulky. In any case, I salute your patience and courage. I would not have the heart to depot simply because I am OCD – I need things to be in their original packaging because I am part of the school of fish…lol.

Yes, school pencil cases! In fact, I used to DIY a palette using one of the old metal school pencil cases but I’d have to glue the magnet to the bottom of the eyeshadow pan for it to work. Yeah, I had to depot the 15th Anniversary palette because I just wasn’t using it. Now, I’m using it a lot more often and actually enjoying using it, which is what makeup should be about right? 😉

Hi, based on Sephora, the XL is 5.8″ H x 9.7″ W x 0.6″ D As for the other sizes, I’m not sure as I don’t have them. The smallest square one fits 4 pans of MUFE shadows, so that should give you an idea of size. It’s thicker than the plastic MAC square palettes, but more sturdy since it’s metal. Hope this helps.